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9 February 2024
Arizona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Upstate Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ANDERSON, S.C. — Jesus Paz Rodriguez, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Paz-Rodriguez was the source of at least 60 kilograms of cocaine from approximately 2019 until his arrest in February 2022. During the conspiracy, Paz was shipped large amounts of cocaine from his home state of Arizona to Upstate South Carolina. Members of the drug trafficking organization would then courier or ship drug proceeds from South Carolina back to Paz-Rodriguez in the border state. On Feb. 9, 2022, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at a location in Mauldin, South Carolina, used by the traffickers to store and distribute drugs. Investigators found Paz-Rodriguez and co-conspirators with multiple kilograms of cocaine.
United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Paz-Rodriguez to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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8 February 2024
법무부, 워싱턴 주 보안관 사무실과 언어 접근성 협약 체결Read the Press Release
워싱턴 법무부는 오늘 워싱턴 주, 킹 카운티 보안관 사무실(KCSO)이 1964년 민권법 제6조를 위반하여 영어 능력이 제한된 사람(LEP)을 차별했다는 의혹을 해결하기 위한 협약을 발표했다.
협약 조건에 따라, KCSO는 LEP 사용자를 위한 언어 접근성을 개선하기 위한 여러 조치를 취하기로 합의했다. 타이틀 VI는 연방 재정 지원을 받는 기관의 인종, 피부색, 출신 국가에 따른 차별(영어 능력에 따른 차별 포함)을 금지하고 있다.
법무부 민권국의 크리스틴 클라크 법무부 차관보는 "법무부는 법 집행 기관이 영어 구사 능력에 관계없이 범죄 피해자를 포함한 지역 사회의 모든 사람들을 보호하고 지원할 수 있도록 최선을 다하고 있습니다. 이번 협약으로 공공 안전이 강화되고 킹 카운티의 영어 능력이 부족한 사람들을 위한 언어 서비스 제공이 개선될 것입니다."라고 말했다.
워싱턴 서부 지역의 테사 엠. 고먼 미국 연방 검사는 "오늘 킹 카운티 보안관실과의 협약은 지역 사회의 신뢰를 구축하는 데 도움이 될 것입니다. 보안관실에 문제가 제기되자마자 해당 기관에서 언어 접근성 관련 정책을 개선해야 한다는 사실을 깨닫고 즉시 변경에 동의하게 되어 기쁘게 생각합니다."라고 말했다.
일련의 언어 접근 지원을 통한 KCSO 보안관보와 LEP를 가진 개인 간의 의사 소통을 개선하는 것을 목표로 오늘 체결한 협약은 2년간의 단계적인 실행 계획을 상세히 담고 있다. 이 협약에 따라 KCSO는 언어 접근 프로그램 관리자를 고용하고, 언어 지원을 위해 아동, 가족, 구경꾼 및 기타 자격이 없는 개인이 이용하는 것을 금지하는 임시 및 최종 지침을 개발하며, 지역 사회 구성원 및 이해 관계자와의 소통을 강화하고, 강력한 교육 프로그램을 개발하며, 접근 가능한 민원 절차를 보장하기로 합의했다.
법무부는 한 지역 사회 기반 단체가 KCSO 보안관보와 LEP 거주자 간의 사건에 대해 우려를 제기한 후 KCSO와 협력하기 시작했다. 법무부는 KCSO에 기술 지원을 제공하여 이번 협약에 이르게 되었다.
이 협약은 민권부와 미국 워싱턴 서부 지방 검찰청이 공동으로 협상한 결과이다.
이 협약은 법 집행 기관이 일상 업무에서 언어 장벽을 극복할 수 있도록 지원하기 위한 전국적인 노력인 법무부의 법 집행 언어 접근 이니셔티브(LELAI)의 일환이다. 민권국이 미국 검찰청과 협력하여 주도하는 이 계획은 기술 지원 자원과 도구를 제공한다. 이 두 가지를 제공함으로써, 주 및 지역 법 집행 기관이 LEP를 가진 개인에게 의미 있는 언어 접근을 지원한다. 이 계획의 목적은 언어 접근 정책, 계획 및 교육을 검토, 업데이트
및/또는 강화하려는 법 집행 기관을 적극적으로 참여시키고, 법 집행기관과 LEP 지역 사회 이해 관계자 및 LEP 인구 간의 연결을 강화하기 위함이다.
민권국 웹사이트 www.justice.gov/crt에서 민권국에 대한 추가 정보를 확인할 수 있으며, 제한된 영어 능력 및 타이틀 VI에 대한 정보는 www.lep.gov에서 확인할 수 있다. LELAI에 대한 자세한 정보는 www.lep.gov/law-enforcement에서 확인할 수 있다. 일반인은 civilrights.justice.gov/report/에서 민권 침해 가능성을 신고할 수 있다.
司法部与华盛顿州警长办公室达成语言协助协议Read the Press Release
司法部今天宣布达成一项协议，撤销针对华盛顿金县治安官办公室 (KCSO) 歧视英语水平有限 (LEP) 人士的指控。该办公室被指控违反了 1964
年《民权法案》第六章。
根据协议条款，KCSO 同意采取一系列措施来改善 LEP
个人的语言使用能力。第六章禁止接受在联邦财政援助的实体中出现基于种族、肤色和国
籍的歧视（包括基于英语水平的歧视）。
司法部民事部门助理总检察长克里斯汀·克拉克(Kristen Clarke)
表示：“司法部致力确保执法机构能够保护和服务社区中的所有人，包括犯罪受害者，无论他们是否能够流利地说英语。”“这项和解协议将增强公共安全，并改善为金县（King County）英语水平有限的人们提供的语言服务。”
“今天与金县治安官办公室达成的协议有助建立社区信任，”华盛顿西区联邦检察官泰莎· M·戈尔曼表示。“当问题上报到治安官办公室后，KCSO
便意识到自己必须改善语言协助方面的政策，并马上同意做出改变。对此我感到很高兴。”
本日达成的协议详细介绍了一项为期两年的计划，该计划将分阶段提供一系列语言协助支持，以改善 KCSO 代表与 LEP 个人之间的沟通。根据协议，KCSO
同意聘请一名语言协助项目经理，并制定临时和最终指令，禁止儿童、家庭、旁观者和其他不合格的个人提供语言援助。此外，KCSO佳将会与社区成员和利益相关者进行外展活动，同时制定健全的培训计划，并确保建立无障碍投诉流程。
在收到一个社区组织对 KCSO 专员与 LEP
居民之间发生的事件表示担忧后，司法部开始与 KCSO 接触。司法部向 KCSO
提供了技术援助，最终达成了这项和解协议。
本次协议是由民权部门和美国华盛顿西区检察官办公室共同谈判达成。该协议是该部门执法机构语言通达倡议 (LELAI)
的一部分。该计划是一项全国性行动，旨在协助执法机构克服日常工作中可能遇到的语言障碍。该计划由民权部门与美国检察官办公室合作牵头，提供 技术援助资源 和
工具，帮助州和地方执法部门为 LEP
个人提供有意义的语言协助，并积极吸引那些希望审查、更新和/或加强其语言协助政策
、计划和培训的执法机构，同时加强执法机构与 LEP 社区利益相关者和LEP
人群之间的联系。
有关民权部门的更多信息，请访问： www.justice.gov/crt 。有关英语水平有限和第六章的信息，请访问：www.lep.gov。有关 LELAI 的更多信息，请访问 www.lep.gov/law- enforcement。如果需要举报可能侵犯公民权利的行为，请访问： civilrights.justice.gov/repo rt/。
Министерство юстиции США заключило соглашение о языковом доступе с Управлением шерифа в штате ВашингтонRead the Press Release
Сегодня Министерство юстиции США объявило о заключении соглашения об урегулировании обвинений в том, что Управление шерифа округа Кинг, штат Вашингтон (KCSO), дискриминировало лиц с ограниченным знанием английского языка (LEP) в нарушение раздела VI Закона о гражданских правах 1964 года.
По условиям соглашения, KCSO согласилось предпринять ряд шагов для улучшения языкового доступа для лиц с ограниченным знанием английского языка (LEP). Раздел VI запрещает дискриминацию по признаку расы, цвета кожи и национального происхождения (включая дискриминацию по признаку владения английским языком) организациям, получающим федеральную финансовую помощь.
«Министерство юстиции США стремится к тому, чтобы наши правоохранительные органы могли защищать и обслуживать всех лиц в их местных сообществах, включая жертв преступлений, независимо от их способности свободно говорить по-английски», — заявила помощник Генерального прокурора США Кристен Кларк (Kristen Clarke) из отдела по гражданским правам Министерства юстиции США. «Это соглашение повысит уровень общественной безопасности и улучшит предоставление языковых услуг лицам с ограниченным знанием английского языка в округе Кинг».
«Сегодняшнее соглашение с Управлением шерифа округа Кинг способствует укреплению доверия в обществе», — отметила Прокурор США по Западному округу штата Вашингтона Тесса М. Горман (Tessa M. Gorman). «Я удовлетворена тем, что, как только проблема была представлена Управлению шерифа, ведомство осознало, что ему необходимо усовершенствовать политику в области языкового доступа, и сразу же согласилось внести изменения.»
Сегодняшнее соглашение предусматривает двухлетний план поэтапного внедрения ряда средств языковой поддержки для улучшения общения между сотрудниками KCSO и лицами с ограниченным уровнем владения английским языком. В рамках этого соглашения KCSO обязалось нанять менеджера программы по обеспечению языкового доступа; разработать промежуточные и окончательные директивы, запрещающие использовать для оказания языковой помощи работу детей, членов семьи, посторонних лиц и других неквалифицированных лиц; провести разъяснительную работу с членами сообщества и заинтересованными сторонами; разработать эффективную программу обучения и обеспечить доступный процесс рассмотрения жалоб.
Министерство юстиции США начало взаимодействовать с KCSO после того, как общественная организация выразила обеспокоенность по поводу инцидента между помощником шерифа KCSO и жителем с ограниченным уровнем владения английским языком. Министерство юстиции США оказало техническую помощь KCSO, в результате чего было заключено мировое соглашение.
Это соглашение было заключено совместно Отделом по гражданским правам и Прокуратурой США по Западному округу штата Вашингтон.
Соглашение является частью Инициативы по обеспечению языкового доступа в правоохранительных органах (LELAI), общенациональной инициативы по оказанию помощи правоохранительным органам в преодолении языковых барьеров в их повседневной работе. Эта инициатива, возглавляемая Отделом по гражданским правам в партнерстве с Прокуратурами США, предоставляет ресурсы технической помощи и инструменты, которые могут помочь штатным и местным правоохранительным органам обеспечить полноценный языковой доступ для лиц с ограниченным уровнем владения английским языком, привлекает правоохранительные органы, которые хотят пересмотреть, обновить и/или укрепить свою политику, планы и обучение в области языкового доступа, а также укрепляет связь между правоохранительными органами и заинтересованными лицами из сообщества лиц с ограниченным уровнем владения английским языком и населением с ограниченным уровнем владения английским языком.
Дополнительную информацию об Отделе по гражданским правам можно найти на его веб-сайте www.justice.gov/crt, а информацию об ограниченном владении английским языком и разделе VI: www.lep.gov. Дополнительная информация об инициативе LELAI выложена по ссылке: www.lep.gov/law-enforcement. Представители общественности могут сообщить о возможных нарушениях гражданских прав по следующей ссылке: civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Бывший Президент Компании Lerner Group Признает Свою Вину По Обвинению В Мошенничестве В Отношении КлиентовRead the Press Release
Ранее сегодня в федеральном суде Бруклина Марат Лернер [Marat Lerner], бывший президент компании, занимающейся оказанием услуг по облегчению бремени задолженности, признал себя виновным по одному пункту обвинения в заговоре с целью совершения мошенничества с использованием электронных средств и по одному пункту обвинения в совершении мошенничества с использованием электронных средств в период досудебного освобождения. Лернер признал, что он обманывал своих жертв и украл денежные средства, которые они намеревались использовать для погашения ипотечных кредитов. Судебное слушание проходило перед окружным судьей США Николасом Гарауфисом [Nicholas G. Garaufis]. При вынесении приговора Лернеру грозит максимальное наказание в виде 50 лет тюремного заключения. Лернер также согласился выплатить 2 554 217,11 долларов в качестве компенсации. Обвинение было предъявлено ему в январе 2023 года.
Бреон Пис [Breon Peace], прокурор США по Восточному округу Нью-Йорка, Джеймс Смит [James Smith], помощник директора Федерального бюро расследований (FBI) в Региональном управлении Нью-Йорка, и Томас Фатторуссо [Thomas Fattorusso], руководящий специальный агент в Региональном управлении Нью-Йорка (Налоговое управление США – Отдел расследований по уголовным делам), объявили о признании обвиняемым своей вины.
«Как сегодня признал обвиняемый, Марат Лернер превращал американскую мечту своих жертв в настоящий кошмар, давая ложные обещания об облегчении бремени задолженности по ипотечным кредитам, а на самом деле занимаясь хищением их с трудом заработанных сбережений ради собственной выгоды, — заявил прокурор США Пис. — Прокуратура продолжит защищать сообщества иммигрантов от преступников, использующих свое доверительное положение для совершения мошенничества против них и хищения их денежных средств».
«Марат Лернер действовал в качестве подпольного посредника в своем местном сообществе, но вместо добросовестного выполнения своих обязательств путем выплаты ипотечных кредитов он незаконно присвоил деньги своих ничего не подозревающих жертв, чтобы жить в роскоши. Это было не просто мошенничество с денежными средствами; эти мошеннические действия затронули дома и семьи в его сообществе. Лица, ставшие жертвами обмана Лернера, не смогли выплатить свои ипотечные платежи, а некоторые столкнулись с лишением права собственности за просроченные задолженности. Сегодняшнее признание ответчиком своей вины и согласованное возмещение ущерба — это лишь один шаг на пути обеспечения полной справедливости для жертв его преступлений, а следующий шагом будет вынесение приговора».
Согласно судебным документам и фактам, представленным в ходе слушания о признании вины, Лернер был владельцем Lerner Group, компании, заявлявшей, что она предоставляет услуги по облегчению бремени задолженности, включая изменение ипотечных кредитов, главным образом, в сообществах иммигрантов из Восточной Европы в Бруклине. Многие из жертв, обманутые ответчиком, уже испытывали финансовые затруднения и специально обратились за помощью к Лернеру в надежде на снижение ежемесячных выплат по ипотечным кредитам. Лернер, в свою очередь, обещал им, что он поможет им снизить ежемесячные выплаты по ипотечным кредитам, работая с их ипотечными кредиторами с целью изменения ипотечного кредита или получения федеральной помощи домовладельцам. Для совершения мошенничества Лернер давал указания жертвам о том, что ему необходим доступ к их банковским счетам для прямого перевода платежей в ипотечные банки от их имени; он также заявлял, что платежи будут адресованы либо распорядителю условного депозита, который будет удерживать денежные средства до тех пор, пока их ипотечные кредиты не будут изменены, либо организациям, аффилированным с их ипотечными кредиторами. Лернер также давал указания жертвам не связываться напрямую со своими ипотечными кредиторами, поскольку он будет выступать в качестве связующего звена между ними и их кредиторами.
На самом же деле Лернер украл у потерпевших более 2,5 миллионов долларов — деньги, которые они намеревались использовать для выплаты своих ипотечных кредитов. Как только Лернер получил доступ к банковским счетам потерпевших, он перевел денежные средства с их счетов в подконтрольные ему компании и/или банковские счета. Лернер удержал большую часть денежных средства жертв, тратя их на личные и деловые расходы, включая автомобиль BMW, предметы роскоши и дорогую еду. С целью скрытия фактов мошенничества Лернер давал указания жертвам игнорировать уведомления от их ипотечных кредиторов о просроченных платежах и задолженностях.
В январе 2023 года большое жюри федерального суда Восточного округа Нью-Йорка предъявило Лернеру обвинение и арестовало его в связи с вышеуказанным мошенничеством. Во исполнение постановления Окружного суда США Восточного округа Нью-Йорка Лернер был освобожден под залог и, помимо прочего, получил указание не совершать дополнительных преступлений. Однако Лернер продолжил хищение средств у потерпевших даже после того, как был арестован ранее за те же преступные деяния. После ареста по этому делу, в период с января 2023 года по май 2023 года, Лернер украл у потерпевших не менее 10 тысяч долларов. Впоследствии постановление об освобождении Лернера под залог было отменено.
В результате многолетнего мошенничества Лернера ипотечные кредиторы возбудили дело о взыскании задолженности в отношении нескольких потерпевших. В рамках своего признания вины Лернер согласился выплатить потерпевшим около 2 554 217,11 долларов в качестве компенсации.
Государственное обвинение находится в ведении Отдела по борьбе с мошенничеством в сфере бизнеса и ценных бумаг Прокуратуры США. За уголовное преследование отвечают помощники прокурора США Николас Аксельрод [Nicholas Axelrod] и Дженни Нгай [Genny Ngai] при содействии помощника юриста Джейкоба Менца [Jacob Menz].
Ответчик:
МАРАТ ЛЕРНЕР
Возраст: 41
Бруклин, Нью-Йорк№ дела E.D.N.Y. 23-CR-15 (NGG)
West Michigan Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, a/k/a “Rabid,” Claims Affiliation With Sadistic Child Abuse And Extortion Network
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, 47, of Kaleva, with sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, coercion and enticement, and possession of child pornography. Evidence introduced at the detention hearing alleged the defendant encouraged his victims to commit sadistic acts, i.e., acts of self-harm for the sexual gratification of the defendant.
“As the allegations in this case demonstrate, the online threats to our children and teenagers evolve and grow every day,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Perpetrators can reach kids anywhere, anytime, with devastating effects on our families and communities. My office will do everything in its power to stop this menace and I strongly urge parents, guardians, and anyone who uses a device to be aware and protect themselves.”
Based on evidence presented at a February 5, 2024 detention hearing, the government alleged that Densmore, under the username “Rabid,” was involved in creating a chat room on Discord called “Sewer.” One purpose of the “Sewer” server was to stream minors engaging in self-harm and sexually explicit conduct. One example of such self-harm content is “cutting” or “fansigning,” in which someone writes or cuts, into their skin, another’s online username. The government alleges that Densmore was involved in soliciting minors to engage in such conduct and kept related images and videos on his phones.
The sexual exploitation offenses each carry a sentence of between 15 and 30 years’ imprisonment. The coercion and enticement offense carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
During the detention hearing, the government introduced evidence of Densmore’s affiliation with an online network called “764” and related subgroups. In September 2023, the FBI issued a public service announcement regarding these groups. According to the FBI, these groups target minors; particularly, marginalized children and children experiencing mental health challenges. Prospective members gain access to associated online platforms by livestreaming or uploading videos of minor victims engaging in self-harm and sexually explicit conduct, among other things. Group members use that content to extort additional self-harm and sexually explicit content from victims.
“We would like to thank the Manistee County Sheriff's Office and our partners on the FBI’s West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX) for their efforts in working to stop further harm against our most vulnerable members of our society, our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI encourages families and caregivers to have open and honest conversations with the young people in their life about online exploitation and related risks, including web-based predators, identity thieves, cyberbullies, sextortion, and more. To report online child sexual exploitation, please use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in partnership with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies."
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten advised that parents should look for unexpected packages, as members of these abuse and extortion networks are known to send children razor blades, sexual devices, and other materials to use in creating online content. The FBI further advised the public to take a number of precautionary steps, including:
- Looking for fresh cuts, bruises, wounds, and scars in unusual patterns;
- Looking for sudden behavior and appearance changes;
- Being attentive to children wearing long sleeves or pants in unusual circumstances;
- Monitoring children’s online activity and discussing the risks of sharing information and content; and
- Running frequent online searches of family and children’s information to help identify and prevent the spread of personal information on the internet.
If you are worried about someone who might be self-harming or is at risk of suicide, please consult a health care professional or call 911 in the event of an immediate, life-threatening emergency.
The FBI is investigating this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend is prosecuting it.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Waaxda Caddaaladdu waxay Heshiis Helitaan Luuqadeed La Gashay Xafiiska Sheriff ee Gobolka WashingtonRead the Press Release
Waaxda Caddaaladda ayaa maanta ku dhawaaqday heshiis lagu xallinayo eedeymaha sheegaya in Xafiiska Sheriff ee Degmada King ee Washington (KCSO) uu takooray dadka aqoontooda Ingiriisiga ay xaddidan tahay (LEP), taasoo xadgudub ku ah Qodobka VI ee Xeerka Xuquuqda Madaniga ee 1964.
Sida uu dhigayo xeerka heshiiska, KCSO waxay ogolaatay inay qaado tallaabooyin dhowr ah oo lagu wanaajinayo helitaanka luqadda ee shakhsiyaadka ah LEP. Qodobka VI waxa uu mamnuucayaa takoorka ku salaysan isirka, midabka iyo asalka qaranka (ay ku jirto takoorida ku salaysan aqoonta Ingiriisiga) ee ay sameeyaan hay'adaha hela kaalmada maaliyadeed ee federaalka.
“Waaxda Cadaaladda waxaa ka go'an in ay hubiso in hay'adahayada sharci fulinta ay awoodaan in ay ilaaliyaan oo ay u adeegaan dhammaan dadka ku nool bulshadooda, oo ay ku jiraan dhibanayaasha dambiyada, iyada oo aan loo eegin awoodda ay u leeyihiin in ay si fiican ugu hadlaan Ingiriisiga,” ayuu yiri Kaaliyaha Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud Kristen Clarke oo ka tirsan Waaxda Caddaaladda Qaybta Xuquuqda Madaniga. “Heshiiskan xalintu waxa uu wanaajin doonaa badqabka dadwaynaha, wuxuuna wanaajin doonaa bixinta adeegyada luqadda ee dadka aan ku hadlin luuqadda Ingiriisiga ee ku nool Degmada King.”
“Heshiiska maanta lala galay Xafiiska Sheriff ee Degmada King wuxuu gacan ka gaysanayaa dhisitaanka kalsoonida bulshada,” ayuu yiri Xeer Ilaaliyaha Mareykanka Tessa M. Gorman ee Western District of Washington. “Waan ku faraxsanahay in isla markii dhibaatada loo soo bandhigay Xafiiska Sheriff, ay wakaaladu ogaatay inay tahay in ay hagaajiso siyaasadaha ku saabsan helitaanka luqadda waxayna isla markiiba ogolaatay inay isbeddel sameyso.”
Heshiiska maanta ayaa faahfaahinaya qorshe laba sano ah oo lagu wajihi doono taageerooyin xiriir ah oo luuqadeed si loo horumariyo xiriirka ka dhexeeya ku xigeennada KCSO iyo shaqsiyaadka ah LEP. Sida ku cad heshiiska, KCSO waxay ogolaatay inay shaqaalaysiiso maamulaha barnaamijka helitaanka luqadda; dhisidda amarro ku meel gaadh ah iyo kuwa kama dambaysta ah ee mamnuucaya u adeegsiga carruurta, qoyska, dadka qalaad iyo shakhsiyaadka kale ee aan u qalmin bixinta adeegyada luqadda; la xiriiridda xubnaha bulshada iyo daneeyayaasha; dhisidda barnaamij tababar oo balaaran iyo hubinta habraac cabasho oo la heli karo.
Waaxda cadaaladda ayaa bilowday la shaqeynta KCSO kadib markii urur bulshada ku salaysan uu soo saaray walaacyo ku saabsan dhacdo dhexmartay ku xigeenka KCSO iyo degane ah LEP. Waaxda cadaaladda ayaa caawimo farsamo siisay KCSO, taas oo keentay in heshiiskan la dejiyo.
Heshiiskan waxaa si wadajir ah uga wada gorgortamay Qaybta Xuquuqda Madaniga ah iyo Xafiiska Xeer Ilaaliyaha Maraykanka ee Western District of Washington.
Heshiisku waa qayb ka mid ah Hindisaha Sharci-Fulinta ee Helitaanka Luuqadda ee waaxda (LELAI), dadaal qaranka oo dhan ah oo lagu caawinayo hay'adaha fulinta sharciga si ay uga gudbaan caqabadaha luqadda ee shaqadooda maalinlaha ah. Hindisaha, oo ay hogaaminayso Qaybta Xuquuqda Madaniga ah iyada oo lala kaashanayo Xafiisyada Xeer Ilaaliyaha Mareykanka, waxay bixisaa khayraadyada kaalmada farsamada iyo agabyada ka caawin kara fulinta sharciga gobolka iyo deegaanka inay si macno leh luqad u helaan shaqsiyaadka ah LEP, waxay si cad ula hawlgalaan hay'adaha fulinta sharciga ee doonaya dib-u-eegista, cusboonaysiinta iyo/ama xoojinta siyaasadoodda helidda luuqadooda, qorshayaashooda iyo tababaradooda waxayna xoojiyaan xiriirka ka dhexeeya wakaaladaha fulinta sharciga iyo daneeyayaasha bulshada LEP iyo dadka LEP.
Macluumaad dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan Qaybta Xuquuqda Madaniga ah ayaa laga heli karaa mareegteeda oo ah www.justice.gov/crt iyadoo macluumaadka ku saabsan aqoonta Ingiriisiga xaddidan iyo Qodobka VI laga heli karo www.lep.gov. Macluumaad dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan LELAI ayaa laga heli karaa www.lep.gov/law-enforcement. Xubnaha ka tirsan ee dadweynaha waxay ku soo wargelin karaan xadgudubyada xuquuqda madaniga ee suuragalka ah barta civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Vermillion Parish Man Sentenced to 192 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Jeremy Melancon, 47, of Kaplan, Louisiana, to 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Melancon to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on June 1, 2023, Melancon met with an undercover law enforcement officer in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant and distributed at least 18 grams of crystal methamphetamine to the undercover officer. A few hours later, in the parking lot of a retail store, Melancon met the same undercover officer and distributed at least 222 grams of crystal methamphetamine to the officer.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ben Wallace.
Utah Man Charged in $2.8 Million Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment, unsealed yesterday, charging a Utah man with wire fraud, making a false statement, impersonating a federal officer and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, from 2018 to 2020, Santiago Garcia Gutierrez allegedly falsely promised his victim that he could acquire at discounted prices exotic cars, planes and vessels that had been seized by the U.S. government through forfeiture. Garcia allegedly promised the victim that he would transfer these luxury assets to them in exchange for earnest money payments. Garcia allegedly assured the victim that those payments would be paid to the U.S. government, but instead he kept the money. To lure his victim into participating in the scheme, on numerous occasions, Garcia allegedly contacted the victim via text message from multiple phone numbers and falsely claimed to be a confidential government informant, federal agent or Garcia’s own attorney. The indictment alleges that Garcia furthered his scheme by lying to an IRS special agent.
In total, Garcia allegedly defrauded the victim of approximately $2.8 million.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, five years in prison for making a false statement, three years in prison for impersonating a federal officer and two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General and the Environmental Protection Agency are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing and Erika V. Suhr of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney’s Eastern Washington COVID-19 Strike Force Announces Additional Indictments, ArrestsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury has returned two additional indictments in connection with fraudulent COVID-19 relief funding. The indictments are the most recent charges announced by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Strike Force, which has brought criminal charges against dozens of individuals and companies and recovered millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained COVID relief funding.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) program, offered forgivable loans to eligible small businesses in order to retain or rehire employees who lost their jobs, or were in danger of doing so, due to the pandemic. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.
The Indictments announced today charge two Spokane-area individuals in two separate cases. The Indictment in United States v. Crawford charges Antonio Feliciano Crawford, age 54, of Mead, Washington, with 30 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and false claims arising from PPP and EIDL applications submitted during 2020 and 2021 on behalf of four companies purportedly owned and operated by Crawford: Tann LLC, Crawford Entertainment, A&M Personal Training LLC, and a sole proprietorship doing business as “Antonio Crawford.” The Indictment alleges that Crawford submitted false and fraudulent information and documentation, including fraudulent and fictitious purported tax returns for the companies, in order to obtain at least $186,971 in PPP and EIDL funding for which he was not eligible.
In United States v. Oberg, the Indictment alleges that Cheryl Lynn Oberg, age 59, of Spokane, Washington, knowingly participated in a fraud scheme and conspiracy in which Oberg obtained $150,000 in EIDL funding based on a fraudulent application submitted in the name of a periodontal business in Mississippi with which Oberg had no involvement. The Indictment alleges that, while the Mississippi-based business did exist, the application was fraudulent, was submitted without the knowledge of the business, and the EIDL funds went to Oberg, who distributed some of the funds to co-conspirators, and used the remainder to fully pay off an outstanding loan on her personal vehicle. The Indictment further alleges that Oberg lied to FBI investigators when questioned about the scheme.
“COVID-19 relief programs were designed to provide a lifeline to struggling businesses during the pandemic. Due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, some deserving businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their business in operation. We created the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force to hold those accountable who abused these critical programs,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “My Office will continue to lead the effort to prosecute those who stole money intended for those in legitimate need.”
In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the USAO, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others.
The charges against Crawford carry a maximum of up to 30 years in federal prison, while the charges against Oberg carry a 20-year maximum.
United States v. Crawford was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by TIGTA, HSI Spokane Field Office, SBA OIG, and the Department of Homeland Security OIG, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene.
United States v. Oberg was investigated by the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Resident Agency, with analytical support and assistance from SBA OIG, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy J. Kelley and Devin Curda.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States v. Crawford: 2:24-CR-00010-TOR
United States v. Oberg: 2:24-CR-00009-TOR
Two New York Men Indicted for Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two New York men previously arrested and charged in December 2023 in connection with staging armed robberies in furtherance of a visa fraud conspiracy have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston, Mass.
Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Patel was arrested in Seattle on Dec. 13, 2023 and remains detained pending trial. Singh was arrested in Queens, N.Y. on Dec. 13, 2023, and was released on conditions following an initial appearance on Dec. 28, 2023.
According to the charging documents, starting in March 2023, Patel and his co-conspirators, including at times Singh, set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least nine convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants across the United States, including at least five in Massachusetts. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U nonimmigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
During the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. One purported victim allegedly paid $20,000 to participate as a victim in one of the staged armed robberies. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
It is alleged that at least two purported victim co-conspirators submitted U Visa applications based on being victims of the staged armed robberies.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Washington; FBI’s New York and Seattle Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hingham, Marshfield, Randolph, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Men Plead Guilty to Carjacking and RobberyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today in federal court, Ray Alexander Villalba, 21, of Arizona, and Elijah Paul Titone, 25, of Muskogee plead guilty to Carjacking; Carrying and Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Obstructing, Delaying, and Affecting Commerce by Robbery; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
According to both plea agreements, on December 3, 2022, Villalba and Titone messaged a victim to meet up through a dating app. Villalba and Titone took guns, duct tape, and masks. They hid in bushes and when the victim arrived, they hit, bound, and blindfolded him. They forced the victim to turn over the keys to his vehicle. Villalba drove, while Titone rode in the back with the victim. They threatened him and his family if he did not comply with their commands. Blindfolded and bound, the victim was forced out of the car where Villablba and Titone drove off. The victim was able to break the binding and walked home. He contacted the Tulsa Police Department and reported the vehicle stolen.
During a second incident on December 6, 2022, Villalba and Titone broke into a home in Broken Arrow wearing ski masks and carrying firearms. They threatened the victim in the home and demanded marijuana. The victim did not comply and Villalba hit him in the eye with his firearm. As a result, the victim lost sight in that eye. Before leaving the home, they took his cell phone and keys.
Villalba and Titone will remain in custody awaiting sentencing. They both face multiple term of imprisonment including up to life for the firearm offenses. At sentencing, the federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Tulsa Police Department, and Broken Arrow Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Trucking company owner pleads guilty to wire fraud related to illegally consolidating loads, overbillingRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus interstate cargo-transport trucking company owner pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to wire fraud. He illegally overbilled shippers, consolidated shipments, and caused the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of goods shipped to destinations in Ohio like Bath and Body Works and Amazon warehouses.
Gurtej Singh, 48, admitted to covertly opening sealed truck trailers and removing goods. Singh and others illegally consolidated loads to save on delivery costs and failed to deliver many goods to their final destinations.
According to court documents, from April 2018 until December 2019, Singh was employed by Cargo Solutions Express as the manager of its warehouse on Fisher Road in Columbus. Singh later created his own transport company, owning and managing Bhullar Transport Group LLC from January 2020 until May 2022. Singh maintained a warehouse for his company on Interchange Road in Columbus.
In January 2019, Singh filed an application with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on behalf of Bhullar and lied by stating that he did not have certain relationships with other FMCSA-regulated entities. In reality, Singh was affiliated with Cargo Solutions Express and two other trucking companies, Roadhawk Transportation and Show Time Carrier.
The trucking companies provided interstate trucking transportation for manufacturers and retailers. The shippers often paid a premium to reserve the entire truck for cargo that they did not want mixed with others’ cargo. To ensure that loads were not tampered with in transit, the shippers often added serialized plastic seals to the trailer locking mechanism and noted the serial number on the shipping documents. Receivers of the goods could then compare a trailer seal to the paperwork to ensure that the trailer had not been opened.
Singh and others charged the premium rate but opened trailers and consolidated cargo to generate higher profits. They altered the seal serial numbers and paperwork, among other tactics to hide the scheme from shippers and receivers.
For example, in December 2018, Cargo Solutions Express picked up a load in Santa Clarita, California, to be delivered to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, containing products for Bath and Body Works. The load was delivered with an intact seal, indicating that the load had not been opened in transit, but 10 pallets of products worth nearly $230,000 were missing.
When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cargo Solutions Express warehouse in Columbus, they discovered the 10 missing pallets of Bath and Body Works lotions, along with several other pallets of goods reported stolen from multiple shipments bound for an Amazon warehouse in Groveport, Ohio.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Andrea M. Kropf, Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea entered on Feb. 6 before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
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Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Ward, a/k/a “Reek,” age 45, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by obtaining unemployment insurance benefits under the name of another person, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, North East Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
Ward admitted that he provided Carl J. DiVeglia III with the personal identifying information of another individual, which DiVeglia used to file a false claim via the NYSDOL website. Ward further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent application submitted by DiVeglia, the NYSDOL paid $15,006 in unemployment insurance benefits. As part of his plea agreement, Ward agreed to pay $15,006 in restitution to the State of New York. DiVeglia previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $1.6 million in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme.
Charges against Ward’s three co-defendants, his brother Todd Ward, Rocco Resciniti and Jamaine Myers, are still pending. The charges against these defendants are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ward faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on June 27, 2024 by United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI and USDOL-OIG are investigating this case, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Trempealeau Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Stealing Firearms from Rockland Gun StoreRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Nehemiah Sample, 27, Trempealeau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 2 years in federal prison for stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Sample pleaded guilty to this charge on October 31, 2023.
On April 25, 2023, Sample and two other individuals broke into a gun store in Rockland, Wisconsin, and stole 41 firearms. Officers conducting surveillance later that day saw Sample driving a pickup truck and, when they tried to stop him, he fled. Officers later found the truck abandoned in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with three of the stolen handguns in a bag on the backseat. Sample fled to Arkansas, where he was found in Lake Village trying to sell firearms out of his car. When Lake Village officers attempted to arrest Sample, he fled into a scrap yard. He was eventually taken into custody and officers found a handgun on him, one abandoned in the scrap yard, and five other firearms in his vehicle. All the firearms had been stolen from the Rockland gun store.
At sentencing Judge Conley said that Sample’s decision to sell these stolen guns on the street, including to felons, was an aggravating factor that required a significant sentence.
Codefendant Mackey K. Drake pled guilty to possessing firearms as a felon on January 17, 2024. He is scheduled for sentencing on April 3, 2024. The case against codefendant Robert E. Benson remains pending and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty.
The charge against Sample was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Village, Arkansas, Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan handled the prosecution.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Ten Defendants Arrested on Federal Indictments Related to a Multi- Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – As a result of a law enforcement operation on February 7, 2024, 10 defendants were arrested at locations throughout Maryland and three search warrants were executed related to an alleged money laundering conspiracy involving more than $9.5 million in proceeds from fraud schemes. Law enforcement agents from the Homeland Security Investigations Mid-Atlantic El-Dorado Task Force, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service participated in yesterday’s searches and arrests. Additional defendants are currently fugitives.
A federal grand jury in Maryland returned two indictments last year that were unsealed upon the arrests of the defendants. The following defendants were arrested in connection with these two cases.
Case Number: 23-CR-411 (MJM)
1. Adanegbe Gift Osemwenkhae, age 38, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; 2. Emily Gil Arias, age 26, of Silver Spring, Maryland; 3. Fatoumata Boiro, age 30, of Largo, Maryland; 4. Lakeisha Parker, age 31, of Baltimore; 5. Martin Ogisi, age 35, of Severn, Maryland; 6. Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, age 30, of Silver Spring, Maryland; 7. Kevin Colon, age 33, of Curtis Bay, Maryland; and
8. Lorena Perez Herrera, age 27, of Silver Spring, Maryland.Case Number: 23-CR-304 (MJM)
9. Yahye Sowe, a/k/a “Cash,” age 40, of Largo, Maryland; and
10. Areal El-Lovieta Harris, age 24, of Hanover, Maryland.The defendants had initial appearances yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Austin. Osemwenkhae, Ogisi, and Ndjouandjouaka consented to detention, Sowe and Boiro were detained pending detention hearings scheduled for February 9, 2024, and the remaining defendants were released on conditions under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
The indictments were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Nicolas Evans of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General (“EPA OIG”); and Special Agent in Charge Ken DeChellis, of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Cyber Field Office (“DCIS”).
According to the indictments, the defendants allegedly created and used limited liability companies and other shell businesses to open bank accounts on which the shell entities were listed as the account holders. Members of the conspiracy had signature authority for the bank accounts, at times using aliases or stolen identities. The defendants and their co-conspirators used the bank accounts to receive money obtained from the fraud victims. The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, such as an environmental trust, an urban redevelopment program, a medical center, a transportation and logistics company, a school district, a college, and a county government, among others. Some of the co-conspirators obtained and used forged and counterfeited identification documents, including documents bearing the names of individual identity theft victims.
As detailed in the indictments, the victims were deceived into sending money to the conspirators’ bank accounts based on false pretenses, such as being provided with false bank account information for legitimate vendor payments and false wire transfer information for legitimate transactions. After the fraudulently obtained funds were received in the bank accounts, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly engaged in financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the money through cash withdrawals, the purchase of cashier’s checks, debit card transactions, and by transferring funds to other bank accounts controlled by the conspirators.
According to the indictments, the defendants obtained and used a portion of the fraud proceeds for themselves. The defendants allegedly used some of the fraud proceeds to purchase vehicles, some of which were shipped or attempted to be shipped outside the United States. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants also engaged in international financial transactions and caused fraud proceeds to be sent outside the United States.
The indictment further alleges that the defendants in case 23-CR-411 (MJM) and their co-conspirators collectively conducted and attempted to conduct financial transactions involving more than $9.5 million in fraud proceeds. The indictment in 23-CR-304 (MJM) alleges that the defendants and their co-conspirators conducted and attempted to conduct financial transactions involving more than $2 million in fraud proceeds.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for each count of money laundering. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, IRS-CI, EPA-OIG, and DCIS for their work in the investigation and recognized the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Stephanie Williamson, who are prosecuting these cases. He also recognized the assistance of the Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Talihina Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael John Jones, age 40, of Talihina, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on January 24, 2023, Jones knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended for distribution.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Jones was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Taholah, Washington man sentenced to 30 months in prison for sex offense against minorRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 21-year-old Taholah, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 30 months in prison for abusive sexual contact in connection with the sexual assault of a teenager on the Quinault Nation reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jerimiah McCrory was arrested in July 2021, after a teen victim reported McCrory raped her after attending a gathering on the Quinault reservation. The investigation by Quinault Nation Police and the FBI revealed that other teens also had been sexually assaulted. U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright rejected a defense request for a time-served sentence, saying the forcible rape followed an escalating pattern of the sexual abuse of others.
According to the plea agreement, the sexual assault of one teenager occurred on April 12, 2021, when McCrory and the victim were visiting a home on the Quinault Nation reservation. McCrory is a member of the Quinault Nation. McCrory admitted that he sexually assaulted the teen and pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact in connection with that assault in October 2023. As part of the plea agreement, McCrory admitted to two other sexual assaults against teenage victims in 2019. Those facts were considered by the judge at sentencing as relevant conduct.
McCrory will be on 10 years of supervised release following prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the Quinault Nation Police and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Tate London and Rebecca S. Cohen. Mr. London serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.
Sở Tư Pháp Ký Thỏa Thuận Tiếp Cận Ngôn Ngữ với Văn Phòng Cảnh Sát Trưởng tại Tiểu Bang WashingtonRead the Press Release
Sở Tư Pháp hôm nay công bố thỏa thuận để giải quyết cáo buộc rằng Văn Phòng Cảnh Sát Trưởng của Quận King (KCSO), Washington phân biệt đối xử với những người có khả năng Tiếng Anh hạn chế (LEP), vi phạm Tiêu Đề VI của Đạo Luật Dân Quyền Năm 1964.
Theo các điều khoản của thỏa thuận, KCSO đã đồng ý thực hiện một số bước để cải thiện việc tiếp cận ngôn ngữ cho các cá nhân LEP. Tiêu Đề VI cấm phân biệt chủng tộc, màu da và nguồn gốc quốc gia (bao gồm cả phân biệt đối xử dựa trên khả năng sử dụng Tiếng Anh) bởi các tổ chức nhận hỗ trợ tài chính từ liên bang.
“Sở Tư Pháp cam kết đảm bảo rằng các cơ quan thi hành pháp luật của chúng ta có khả năng bảo vệ và phục vụ tất cả mọi người trong cộng đồng của họ, bao gồm cả tội phạm, bất kể khả năng sử dụng Tiếng Anh của họ,” Trợ Lý Tổng Chưởng Lý Kristen Clarke của Sở Tư Pháp đã nói. “Thỏa thuận dàn xếp này sẽ nâng cao an ninh công cộng và cải thiện việc cung cấp dịch vụ ngôn ngữ cho những người có khả năng sử dụng Tiếng Anh hạn chế ở Quận King.”
“Thỏa thuận hôm nay với Văn Phòng Cảnh Sát Trưởng Quận King giúp tạo dựng niềm tin trong cộng đồng,” Công Tố Viên Hoa Kỳ Tessa M. Gorman tại Quận Tây Washington cho biết. “Tôi rất vui mừng là ngay sau khi vấn đề được đưa ra cho Văn Phòng Cảnh Sát Trưởng, cơ quan này nhận ra rằng cần phải cải thiện chính sách về việc tiếp cận ngôn ngữ và ngay lập tức đồng ý thực hiện các thay đổi.”
Thỏa thuận ngày hôm nay ghi chi tiết một kế hoạch kéo dài hai năm để áp dụng một loạt các hỗ trợ tiếp cận ngôn ngữ nhằm cải thiện giao tiếp giữa các cảnh sát viên của KCSO và các cá nhân LEP. Theo thỏa thuận, KCSO đã đồng ý thuê một quản lý chương trình tiếp cận ngôn ngữ; xây dựng các chỉ thị tạm thời và cuối cùng để cấm sử dụng trẻ em, gia đình, người ngoài cuộc và những người khác không đủ điều kiện nhận hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ; thực hiện hoạt động tiếp xúc các thành viên cộng đồng và các bên liên quan; phát triển một chương trình đào tạo thiết thực và đảm bảo quy trình khiếu nại dễ tiếp cận.
Sở Tư Pháp bắt đầu tiếp xúc với KCSO sau khi một tổ chức cộng đồng nêu ra lo ngại về một sự việc giữa một Nhân Viên Cảnh Sát KCSO và một cư dân LEP. Sở Tư Pháp đã cung cấp hỗ trợ kỹ thuật cho KCSO, kết quả là có thỏa thuận dàn xếp này.
Thỏa thuận này đã được đàm phán chung bởi Phòng Dân Quyền và Văn Phòng Công Tố Hoa Kỳ tại Quận Tây Washington.
Thỏa thuận này là một phần của Sáng Kiến Tiếp Cận Ngôn Ngữ Hành Pháp (LELAI) của sở, một nỗ lực quốc gia để hỗ trợ các cơ quan thực thi pháp luật vượt qua các rào cản ngôn ngữ trong công việc hằng ngày. Sáng kiến này, do Phòng Dân Quyền dẫn đầu và phối hợp với Văn Phòng Công Tố Hoa Kỳ, cung cấp các nguồn lực hỗ trợ kỹ thuật và công cụ có thể giúp cơ quan thực thi pháp luật cấp tiểu bang và địa phương cung cấp khả năng tiếp cận ngôn ngữ có ý nghĩa cho các cá nhân LEP, tích cực hợp tác với các cơ quan thực thi pháp luật muốn rà soát, cập nhật và/hoặc củng cố các chính sách, kế hoạch và đào tạo về tiếp cận ngôn ngữ của họ, và củng cố mối liên kết giữa các cơ quan thực thi pháp luật và các bên liên quan của cộng đồng LEP và những nhóm dân số đó LEP.
Thông tin thêm về Phòng Dân Quyền có trên trang web của cơ quan này tại địa chỉ www.justice.gov/crt và thông tin về khả năng sử dụng Tiếng Anh hạn chế và Tiêu Đề VI có tại www.lep.gov. Các thông tin khác về LELAI có tại www.lep.gov/law-enforcement. Công chúng có thể báo cáo các trường hợp có khả năng vi phạm về dân quyền tại civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Stewardson, Illinois, Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Stewardson, Illinois, woman, Julie R. Williams, 54, pleaded guilty on February 7, 2024, to four counts of wire fraud. Sentencing for Williams has been scheduled on June 10, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
In court before U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce, Williams admitted to stealing money from her former employer, Charleston-Mattoon-based Apex Property Management, from October 2014 through February 2016. Williams further admitted to making materially false entries into the company’s software system to conceal her thefts.
Williams remains on bond pending sentencing.
Williams faces statutory penalties of up to 80 years’ imprisonment; up to a $1,000,000 fine; and up to a twelve-year term of supervised release.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the Mattoon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Ritzer and William Lynch are representing the government in the prosecution.
Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rian Reid Miller, age 22, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
The Indictment alleged that on April 29, 2023, Miller knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during an assault on the victim. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Miller was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.
Schoharie County Man Sentenced to 188 Months for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – John C. Hotaling, age 62, of Esperance, New York, was sentenced today to serve 188 months (15 years and eight months) in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven G. James.
As part of his earlier guilty plea on the eve of trial, Hotaling admitted that in 2020, he possessed child pornography images, some of which he created by photoshopping the faces of children onto nude adult bodies engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a process known as “morphing.” Hotaling was on supervised release at the time for a 2009 conviction for engaging in the same conduct. He also admitted to violating his terms and conditions of supervised release and was sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby ordered Hotaling to serve the 12 months consecutively to the 188-month term imposed for new criminal conduct.
Judge Suddaby also imposed a life term of supervised release to begin upon Hotaling’s completion of his prison term, and ordered Hotaling to forfeit the laptop he used to commit the offenses. Hotaling must also register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, the New York State Police and the United States Probation Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Collyer, Ashlyn Miranda and Rick Bellis prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
San Jose Man Charged in Alleged Conspiracy to Steal High-End Bicycles in Bay Area for Resale in MexicoRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted Victoriano Romero, charging him with conspiracy and related charges in connection with an alleged scheme to steal high-end performance bicycles from residents in the Bay Area and transport the bicycles to Mexico for resale.
According to the indictment, filed January 23, 2024, and unsealed earlier today, Romero, 53, from San Jose, participated in a complex international fencing operation that involved stealing bicycles from homes in San Francisco and Redwood City, Calif., during nighttime burglaries, and then transporting the stolen bicycles to Jalisco, Mexico, for resale. The indictment alleges Romero owns an automotive shop in San Jose where he received the stolen bicycles, took pictures of them, disassembled them, packaged them for delivery, and then had them transported to a co-conspirator in Mexico. Romero allegedly sent the pictures to his co-conspirator who used the pictures for online advertisements to sell the bicycles. Further, the indictment alleges Romero received a share of the profits from the international bicycle fencing scheme.
The indictment contains a description of nine of the bicycles that were stolen between April 2020 and April 2021. The bicycles, ranging in value from $3,000 to $9,000, included notable manufacturers such as a Serotta Titanium bicycle, a Bulls Grinder Evo bicycle, and a Cervelo C3 Carbon bicycle.
The indictment also describes additional details about the participation of Romero’s alleged co-conspirator in the scheme. For example, the indictment alleges the unindicted co-conspirator posted pictures of the stolen bicycles on a Facebook sales page using a virtual private network (or similar method) so that only persons in Mexico could see that the bicycles were for sale. In addition, the indictment describes how the co-conspirator reassembled the bicycles in Mexico before selling them and maintained a ledger listing the profits from the sales of the bicycles.
In sum, Romero is charged with one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in foreign commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 2314, and two counts of transportation of stolen goods in foreign commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 and 2.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum statutory penalty for the conspiracy charge is five years in prison. The maximum statutory penalty for the substantive transportation charges is 10 years, per count. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court could order defendant to serve an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term, additional fines, and restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Romero made his initial federal court appearance to face the charges this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H. Kang. He was released on bond. His next scheduled court appearance is scheduled for April 10, 2024, before P. Casey Pitts, United States District Judge, for status.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lagrama is prosecuting the case. The prosecution of this case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the San Francisco Police Department.
San Francisco Man Sentenced to Five Years for Transporting DrugsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Alfredo Ek-Poot, 51, of San Francisco, California, was sentenced on February 8, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana with the intent to distribute. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Ek-Poot to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ek-Poot is released from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release.
On November 4, 2021, Ek-Poot, along with Esteban Dejesus Huerta Rocha and Ricardo Jiminez-Noveno, were traveling east on Interstate 80 near Grand Island when they were stopped by a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol for driving at 87 mph in a 75-mph zone. Rocha was the driver, Jiminez-Noveno was the front seat passenger, and Ek-Poot was seated in the back. When the trooper approached the car, he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the car and he saw a bag of marijuana inside the car. When troopers searched the car, a mason jar containing marijuana was located in the front passenger door compartment. A backpack containing a methamphetamine pipe was discovered on the front passenger floorboard. Rocha was searched and he had a small bag of cocaine in his pocket. In the trunk, troopers found approximately 8.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.5 pounds of marijuana, and 10.8 ounces of cocaine.
Ek-Poot pleaded guilty on November 3, 2023. Jiminez-Noveno pleaded guilty on August 30, 2022, and was sentenced on November 22, 2022, to a 156-month term of imprisonment, and a 5-year term of supervised release. Rocha pleaded guilty on July 6, 2022, and was sentenced on October 7, 2022, to a 135-month term of imprisonment, and five years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.
Royalton Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Royalton man has been sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for producing sexually explicit images of a minor, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in November 2022, Andrew John Groen, 35, contacted a minor victim using the messaging application TextMe. Groen, who knew the victim was a minor, identified himself in messages as a 19-year-old man named “Tyler.” On multiple occasions, Groen coerced the minor to send sexually explicit images. Groen also sent the minor victim obscene images and links to pornography and encouraged the minor victim to have sex with an adult man identified in messages.
On August 24, 2023, Groen pleaded guilty to one count of production and attempted production of child pornography. Groen was sentenced on February 6, 2024, in U.S. District Court by Judge Jerry W. Blackwell.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Willmar Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
Rochester man going to prison on fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Treshon Alexander, 31, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that in February 2015, Alexander was convicted on federal charges of conspiracy to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute, and distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Alexander was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison and five years’ supervised release. On February 16, 2023, while on supervised release, Alexander was arrested at his Apollo Drive residence in Greece, when members of the U.S. Probation Office conducted a search there and at a Chippendale Road residence, which Alexander used to store narcotics. During the searches, investigators seized $6,654.00 in U.S. currency, multiple cell phones, materials for processing and packaging narcotics for distribution, over 2000 rounds of ammunition, a money counter, and vacuum sealer. In addition, approximately 1,394 grams of fentanyl and 504 grams of cocaine were also seized.
The sentencing was the culmination of an investigation by the U.S. Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy Englert, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Attorney General Letitia James.
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Registered sex offender gets 100 years after raping two young childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 32-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
George Michael Granados pleaded guilty July 31, 2023.
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now ordered Granados to serve a 600-month sentence for each of his two counts of conviction. They will run consecutively for a total 1200 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court also heard additional information including a victim impact statement from the father of one of the victims who expressed his horror at this crime, the violation of trust and the pain this caused his family. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that one day these two little girls will grow up and should not have to bear the fear that Granados may ever be released from prison.
“One hundred years is justice. Granados stole the innocence of two children, young girls he knew and were often entrusted to his care,” said Hamdani. “He betrayed them in the most horrific and despicable manner, all for his own deviant sexual desire. This massive sentence makes it clear – if you try to destroy our precious kids through such victimization and abuse, we will destroy your freedom by showing you only prison walls for decades to come.”
“What Granados did to those two little girls is abominable and unforgiveable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston field office. “As a convicted rapist, Granados should have never had access to those children. Today’s sentence is partial justice for his victims whose innocence he stole and trust he violated. It’s precisely the young, innocent and vulnerable victims for whom our agents will continue to investigate some of the most difficult and emotionally taxing crimes.”
The investigation revealed Granados raped these children and recorded them on video. After filming, Granados uploaded the files to his Google drive.
In February 2022, law enforcement conducted search warrants for his residence, electronic devices and Google drive account. Forensic examination revealed three separate videos and nine image files, each showing his vaginal penetration of the girls. His face, heavily tattooed neck, arms and torso led to his positive identification. Granados was also found to be in possession of other image and video files depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
At the time of these events, Granados was a registered sex offender with a prior conviction for sexual assault.
Granados will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation along with Liberty County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad S. Khandewhal and Anna Swanson prosecuted this case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Readout: Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force Holds Summit in Los AngelesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, and the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) today hosted a summit where procurement officials and law enforcement partners from across Southern California convened to discuss emerging threats and raise awareness.
United States Attorney (USA) Martin Estrada, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, PCSF Director Daniel Glad and law enforcement partners were joined by representatives from over a dozen state and local government agencies.
During the summit, USA Estrada and DAAG Kumar reflected on the PCSF’s growth and success since its inception in 2019. They also detailed additional resources the department has dedicated to combat procurement collusion, emphasized the importance of law enforcement partnerships and a whole-of-government response to persistent threats in government spending and sharpened the PCSF’s focus on the challenges, risks and opportunities posed by increased federal spending in Southern California.
Summit participants discussed the importance of defending critical programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022 from procurement collusion risk. USA Estrada and DAAG Kumar also outlined the ways that state and local government agencies can partner with the PCSF to address these emerging threats.
Summit participants included representatives from the FBI; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The PCSF is the Justice Department’s coordinated, national law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. The PCSF is comprised of the Antitrust Division, multiple U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, the FBI and the Inspectors General for multiple federal agencies.
Since its inception in November 2019, the PCSF has opened more than 100 criminal investigations and trained more than 31,000 people. In that time, the PCSF and Antitrust Division have investigated and prosecuted over 65 companies and individuals involving over $500 million worth of government contracts. The summit marks the department’s continued support of the PCSF as it enters its fifth year. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report collusion affecting government contracts, please visit www.justice.gov/atr/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Mitchell and Antitrust Division Trial Attorneys Nolan Mayther and Ken Sakurabayashi are the PCSF coordinators for the Central District of California.
Readout of U.S. Justice Department Senior Officials Trip to JamaicaRead the Press Release
On Feb. 6 and 7, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) Arun G. Rao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Associate Deputy Attorney General (ADAG) and U.S. Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions Michael P. Ben’Ary visited Kingston, Jamaica, to meet with senior officials from the Government of Jamaica and discuss security and law enforcement challenges and our shared interest in strengthening U.S.-Jamaican cooperation in these areas.
DAAG Rao and ADAG Ben’Ary speak to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
On this visit, they met with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his chief of staff to discuss our shared priorities of combating firearms trafficking and transnational fraud schemes connected to violence in Jamaica, as well as our commitment to further engagement and partnership on these important issues. They also met with U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nick Perry and other U.S. Embassy leadership and held a roundtable discussion with representatives of key U.S. government agencies based in Kingston focused on law enforcement issues.
While in Kingston, DAAG Rao and ADAG Ben’Ary spoke at the 2024 Security Seminar on “Organized Violence and the Threat to Peace in Jamaica and the Region,” sponsored by the Office of the National Security Advisor. Jamaican Prime Minister Holness and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Horace Chang also delivered remarks at the conference. DAAG Rao highlighted the importance of international cooperation to successfully prosecuting those responsible for online fraud schemes and combating the violence associated with these criminal organizations. ADAG Ben’Ary highlighted the close security partnerships between U.S. and Jamaican law enforcement, the importance of firearms tracing to identify, disrupt, and dismantle firearms trafficking networks, and the steps that the Government of Jamaica and other Caribbean partners can take to increase joint efforts to counter illegal firearms trafficking.
DAAG Rao speaks about consumer frauds at Security Seminar in Kingston.
This visit by senior U.S. Justice Department officials follows Jamaican Prime Minister Holness’ visit to Washington, D.C. in December 2023 and reinforces our commitment to advance bilateral cooperation by combating transnational criminal organizations and the trafficking of drugs and firearms, strengthening cooperation to prevent online financial fraud schemes, and promoting regional security under Plan Secure Jamaica and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Disrupting illicit firearms trafficking in the Caribbean is a shared priority for the United States and our Caribbean partners, and an important aspect of our cooperation to address rising levels of crime and violence in the region.
The longstanding U.S.-Jamaica relationship is built on mutual respect, common interests, and shared cooperation, and this visit helped build on that partnership. We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with Jamaican law enforcement in the mutually beneficial efforts to investigate and disrupt fraud networks and arms trafficking in Jamaica.
ADAG Ben’Ary provides overview on firearms trafficking at Security Seminar in Kingston.
Readout of Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force’s Summit in Los AngelesRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) hosted a summit where procurement officials and law enforcement partners from across Southern California convened to discuss emerging threats and raise awareness. U.S. Attorney (USA) Martin Estrada for the Central District of California, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, PCSF Director Daniel Glad and law enforcement partners were joined by representatives from over a dozen state and local government agencies.
During the summit, USA Estrada and DAAG Kumar reflected on the PCSF’s growth and success since its inception in 2019. They also detailed additional resources the department has dedicated to combat procurement collusion, emphasized the importance of law enforcement partnerships and a whole-of-government response to persistent threats in government spending and sharpened the PCSF’s focus on the challenges, risks and opportunities posed by increased federal spending in Southern California.
Summit participants discussed the importance of defending critical programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022 from procurement collusion risk. USA Estrada and DAAG Kumar also outlined the ways that state and local government agencies can partner with the PCSF to address these emerging threats. Summit participants included representatives from the FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
The PCSF is the Justice Department’s coordinated, national law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. The PCSF is comprised of the Antitrust Division, multiple U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, the FBI and the Inspectors General for multiple federal agencies.
Since its inception in November 2019, the PCSF has opened more than 100 criminal investigations and trained more than 31,000 people. In that time, the PCSF and Antitrust Division have investigated and prosecuted over 65 companies and individuals involving over $500 million worth of government contracts. The summit marks the department’s continued support of the PCSF as it enters its fifth year. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report collusion affecting government contracts, please visit www.justice.gov/atr/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Piedmont Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Randy James Kennedy, 35, of Piedmont, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Kennedy obtained methamphetamine through the mail and directed others on its handling and distribution. While in jail on state charges, Kennedy attempted to have drugs brought into the jail by others. Kennedy had multiple prior drug and firearms related convictions at the time he committed the federal offense.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Kennedy to 216 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 26 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man pleaded guilty to possession of 26 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
According to court documents, in April of 2022, Marcus Tubby, Jr., 31, possessed 26 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Tubby was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
Tubby is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Whitney Woodruff, Regional Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Paterson Police Officer Admits Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Paterson Police Department officer today admitted using excessive force during two separate arrests, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Kevin Patino, 32, of Wayne, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to a superseding information charging him with two counts of violating an individual’s civil rights.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Nov. 26, 2020, Patino responded to a call for backup from another officer who was attempting to disperse a crowd of people on Main Street in Paterson. Patino observed the other officer engaged in a verbal exchange with the first victim. Patino directed the victim to move away from the officer, but the victim initially declined to do so. Patino then pushed the victim away from the other officer and the victim walked away from Patino. Patino also began to walk away but then returned to confront the victim, who did not pose a danger to Patino or anyone else, and pushed the victim into the street. Patino then grabbed the victim, threw the victim to the ground, and proceeded to repeatedly strike the victim while the victim was on the ground. Another police officer intervened while Patino was striking the victim and handcuffed the victim.
On Dec. 14, 2020, Patino responded with another officer in an unmarked police vehicle to a call regarding a suspicious person on Madison Avenue in Paterson. Patino, along with other officers, encountered an individual who appeared to be the person described in the call. While the officers were engaged with this individual, the second victim walked towards the officers and observed their interaction with the individual, before walking away. After the officers ended their encounter with the individual, Patino and another officer drove away in their unmarked police vehicle. The officer who was driving the unmarked vehicle then made a sharp turn towards the second victim, who was walking down the street, and parked the vehicle. Patino got out of the vehicle and struck the victim, who did not pose a danger to Patino or anyone else, in the face and body several times. After the other officer grabbed hold of the victim and brought the victim to the ground, Patino continued to repeatedly strike the victim.
Patino agreed that in each instance his repeated use of force against each victim was unreasonable and excessive, in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Each violation of civil rights count carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin; the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes; and the North Jersey Public Corruption Task Force composed of members of FBI and New Jersey State Police.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bernard J. Cooney of the Criminal Division and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Civil Rights Task Force, and Joseph Gribko, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division.
patino.sinformation.pdfOmaha Man Sentenced in Firearms and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Keland A. Strong, 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for his participation in a firearms conspiracy in the furtherance of drug trafficking. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Strong to 72 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Strong’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Co-defendant Rodolfo Falcon owned a house that was the central location for the distribution of marijuana, marijuana derivatives, and cocaine. Falcon rented that house out to several younger drug dealers including Kenneth Blair, Alexis Bernal-Lopez, and Keland Strong. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force performed a search of the residence on November 30, 2021, and recovered cocaine, marijuana, currency, drug paraphernalia, and several firearms. Falcon, who has a distinctive tattoo on his hand, was seen in photos posing with firearms. One of the firearms shown in the picture was recovered from the residence. Agents also located a stolen firearm and AR15 rifle.
At the time of the search, Blair was in the basement of the residence along with two apparent narcotics customers. Drugs and cash were also recovered from that location. Strong was located in an upstairs room that contained numerous firearms. Falcon lived on the main level of the home where agents recovered cash, cocaine. and personal identification documents. Evidence of significant marijuana distribution such as wrappers for large quantities of marijuana were also recovered. This along with the text messages between the group members revealed that the home was being used as a main distribution hub and that Majok Bethow, Bernal-Lopez, Strong, and Blair all worked together to sell drugs, particularly marijuana to “serves” (their code word for narcotics purchasers) and would drive each other to sales and work together to get the right types of THC cartridges and marijuana to customers.
On September 28, 2023, Bethow: pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy in the furtherance of drug trafficking and was sentenced on January 11, 2024, to 24 months’ imprisonment to run concurrent with a federal case charging him with possessing a machinegun.
On September 28, 2023, Blair pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and was sentenced December 21, 2023, to 21 months’ imprisonment.
On October 27, 2023, Falcon pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced on January 19, 2024, to 24 months’ imprisonment.
On November 20, 2023, Bernal Lopez pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Sentencing is set for February 16, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Producing Child Pornography of Abducted State WardRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Robert E. Kaczmarek, age 55, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 9, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for Production of Child Pornography. Chief District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kaczmarek to 324 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kaczmarek’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. As part of his sentence, Kaczmarek was ordered to pay $105,214.50 in restitution.
“So many words – horrific, egregious, unthinkable, inhuman—all these words apply here”, said Chief Judge Rossiter in pronouncing the sentence. “What was done to this young lady…I seldom see it.”
In December 2021, a foster mother in Omaha, Nebraska, reported that her 16-year-old female foster daughter (hereinafter identified as “the victim”) had not come home as expected and the foster mother was concerned that the victim was having an inappropriate relationship with someone around 40 years old named “Rob.” The foster mother provided Snapchat messages of a sexual nature between “Rob” and the victim. The messages included the victim sending photographs of herself in lingerie to “Rob.”
On June 30, 2022, Kaczmarek reported to the child abuse hotline/ the victim’s caseworker that the victim was being sexually abused by a friend of Kaczmarek’s.
On July 6, 2022, the victim disclosed in a forensic interview that she was involved in a sexual relationship with Kaczmarek, who she described as being 53 years old. The victim stated that she met Kaczmarek through a friend approximately one year prior and that originally Kaczmarek provided her with marijuana, but their relationship turned into exchanging sex for drugs. The victim described being actively addicted to drugs and stated that Kaczmarek would supply cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and mushrooms in exchange for the victim engaging in sex with him and completing household tasks such as cleaning. The victim also stated that Kaczmarek would pay for the victim to get her hair and nails done.
The victim stated that she felt obligated to engage in the sexual activity and that Kaczmarek would become agitated and aggressive if she did not. The victim stated that she feared Kaczmarek would hurt her, his daughter, his dogs, or someone else. The victim stated that sometimes Kaczmarek would be gone for hours and would return with blood on his hands and clothes and would clean his vehicle. Kaczmarek talked about taking people to “the farm” and threatened to take the victim to the farm. The victim stated the people Kaczmarek took to the farm did not return and Kaczmarek talked about calling a buddy to help carry a body to the farm. Kaczmarek also talked about having a chemical in his truck that would disintegrate things.
The victim stated she had tried to get away from Kaczmarek at times, but he would become like a stalker and would not leave her alone. The victim discussed an incident where Kaczmarek was angry at her and told her that she was lucky she was female because otherwise he would have “curb stomped” her and taken her to the farm and thrown her in a hole. The victim stated that Kaczmarek had slapped her, burnt her, pushed her, and thrown stuff at her. The victim stated that Kaczmarek had cameras in his bedroom and would get mad if the victim covered up the camera.
On August 8, 2022, the Omaha Police Department learned that the victim had left her guardian’s residence in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, in a white Jeep Gladiator. Ring Doorbell video showed the Jeep pull up to the house, the minor get into the vehicle, and the vehicle drive away. The guardian advised that he believed the driver of the vehicle to be Kaczmarek based on the vehicle and the fact that the victim had called him after leaving and stated that Kaczmarek was driving the victim to take her cat to the vet. The victim did not return.
Messages later recovered from Kaczmarek’s phone suggested that Kaczmarek took the victim to Missouri and left her there for two days before returning her to Omaha and moving her between various properties.
On August 22, 2022, officers executed a search warrant at Kaczmarek’s residence. There was a camera set up in Kaczmarek’s bedroom as described by the victim. Kaczmarek was located at another location. Kaczmarek stated that the victim was at a residence with of an acquaintance of Kaczmarek. Kaczmarek stated that this individual did work for Kaczmarek. Kaczmarek was taken under arrest. When arrested, Kaczmarek was found to be in possession of a plastic shopping bag containing approximately 15 grams of marijuana, approximately 15.5 grams of methamphetamine, and approximately 3 grams of cocaine (all weights with packaging).
The minor was located in a dirty cellar with boarded-up windows and only a hand-held light source. The victim was observed to be under the influence of methamphetamines and weighing approximately 88 lbs. The victim reported feeling suicidal while in the basement.
During an interview after his arrest, Kaczmarek admitted that he had been in contact with the victim ever since picking her up on August 8, 2022. Kaczmarek also admitted that the victim had sent him nude images of herself.
Officers executed search warrants for Kaczmarek’s Google account and cell phone. Within Kaczmarek’s account and on his device, investigators located numerous pictures of the victim in lingerie, exposing her breasts and genital area. Investigators also located videos of the victim engaged in sexual acts. One video depicts the victim restrained and engaged in a sexual act.
Lieutenant Tara Ackerson with the Omaha Police Department stated following Kaczmarek’s sentence, “The crimes committed by Kaczmarek are heinous and inconceivable. The sentence that was imposed upon him today sends the message that preying on our youth will not be tolerated. The Omaha Police Department is pleased to see such a strong sentence. We will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure that those involved in sex trafficking are held accountable.”
“The sentence imposed by Chief Judge Rossiter sends a message that the horrendous crimes committed by Kaczmarek have no place in our society,” said United States Attorney Susan Lehr, “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those individuals that take advantage of some of the most vulnerable in society.”
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Oahu Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Kalani Kaaiawaawa, 24, of Honolulu, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 40 years in federal prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Kaaiawaawa was also ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution to victims identified in the child pornography he possessed.
According to information presented to the court between at least August 2018 and November 2020, Kaaiawaawa repeatedly sexually assaulted a child who was six to eight years old at the time of the assaults, and video-recorded the assaults. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered the recordings on Kaaiawaawa’s phones in connection with the execution of a search warrant at Kaaiawaawa’s residence. In total, investigators found more than 100,000 images and videos on the two phones containing child pornography, including depictions of children as young as two years old being sexually assaulted. The FBI also discovered chat room conversations in which Kaaiawaawa shared child pornography, bragged about his assaults on the child exploitation victim, and revealed that he had begun to “touch” a second victim, who was two years old at the time. Kaaiawaawa has been detained since his arrest one day after the execution of the search warrant on November 10, 2020.
“Justice for the child victim of Kaaiawaawa’s horrendous series of crimes has been served by the Court’s sentence,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “Our children – the most vulnerable victims in our society – are the priority of our law enforcement community and we will continue to hold sexual predators accountable for their terrible crimes.”
“The FBI remains committed in investigating and bringing to prosecution those who continue to take advantage of our most vulnerable population - our keiki in Hawaii,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “This sentence underscores the egregious and reprehensible nature of these types of crimes and highlights how seriously the FBI takes its Crimes Against Children investigative responsibilities."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
North Port Man Indicted for Stealing Firearm from Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging James Michael O’Brien (48, North Port) with theft of a firearm from a firearms dealer and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted, O’Brien faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count.
According to the indictment, on January 17, 2024, O’Brien stole a firearm from J&J One Stop Gun Shop in Port Charlotte, a federal firearms licensee.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
New York Man Sentenced for $600,000 COVID Fraud Using Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A New York man was sentenced yesterday to 42 months in prison for his role in a fraudulent scheme to obtain pandemic benefits using the stolen identities of at least 20 other people.
According to court documents, Obinna Nwafor, 50, engaged in a scheme to obtain various pandemic loans using the identities of others who were unaware of this activity. In September 2020, L.H., a resident of Norfolk who also serves as a judge on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, received a statement from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) at her home address, indicating that she owed a payment on a loan received under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL). L.H. reported this information to law enforcement, which led to the investigation in this case.
Further investigation revealed that an application for an EIDL loan in the amount of $150,000 had been submitted to the SBA in August 2020, using L.H.’s name and other confidential personal identifiers, including her Social Security number, date of birth, address, and phone number. Loan documents were electronically signed in L.H.’s name, and loan proceeds in the amount of $149,900 were disbursed to an account that did not belong to L.H and was controlled by Nwafor.
After this information came to light, further investigation revealed several related EIDL loans fraudulently obtained by Nwafor, including a $150,000 loan obtained in Virginia resident K.G.’s name. Like L.H., K.G.’s Social Security number, date of birth, address, and phone number had been used on the loan application. Similarly, K.G. had not applied for an EIDL loan or authorized anyone to apply for a loan on her behalf. Within days of the loan proceeds disbursement, Nwafor moved the funds to other accounts he controlled, including an account held jointly with his spouse, a bank account held in the name of a Nigerian entity in which Nwafor held an interest, and nearly $75,000 to an account belonging to a romance fraud victim, who had been misled as to the origin of the funds.
Further investigation also revealed that Nwafor had received approximately $300,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits in the names of at least eighteen other people. Those funds had been deposited into approximately six different bank accounts owned and controlled by Nwafor. When Nwafor was told by Wells Fargo that these funds were being returned to the originating state unemployment offices, Nwafor frantically worked with other individuals in an attempt to convince the bank not to return the funds.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; and Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson C. Yates and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-21.
New York Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gilberto Rodriguez Jr., age 46, of Long Island, NY, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between October 17, 2022 and March 20, 2023, Rodriguez distributed a quantity of fentanyl on three separate occasions, in York County. The indictment further alleges on two separate occasions during that same time frame, Rodriguez distributed approximately 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Finally, the indictment alleges that on March 20, 2023, Rodriguez possessed a quantity of fentanyl with the intent to distribute the controlled substance.
The case was investigated by the York County Detective Bureau, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Monroe is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty for the offenses is life imprisonment, a life term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $20,000,000 fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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New Mexico Landlords to Pay $42,000 to Resolve Alleged Tenant Abuses Arising from HUD’s Section 8 Low-income Housing ProgramRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Bertrand Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Southcentral Region, announced today that landlords for properties located in Roswell and Albuquerque paid $30,000 and $12,000, respectively to settle allegations that they violated the anti-fraud False Claims Act by charging low-income tenants more than the amount permitted under HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as “Section 8”.
The Section 8 program, which is administered by local housing authorities throughout New Mexico and the country, provides a Government subsidy to enable tenants to secure decent housing. The tenant’s share of the rent is determined based upon ability to pay. The total rental amount is determined based upon market rental rates. The program therefore enables tenants to secure decent housing while ensuring that landlords realize full market value for their rental properties.
In the Roswell case, the government alleges that apartment complex operator Turnaround Properties overcharged a vulnerable low-income Section 8 tenant for a period of twelve months, despite notices from the Eastern Regional Housing Authority setting forth lawful rental levels. The Government alleges that Turnaround then retained the excess payments despite a request for a refund from the tenant, who suffers from physical and cognitive limitations. Turnaround collected $832 in excess rent.
In the Albuquerque case, landlord Santana Ortiz demanded excess rent payments from his tenant for a period of more than four years; even documenting the unlawful payments in a sham lease agreement that was concealed from the local housing authority. The Albuquerque tenant felt compelled to comply with the landlord’s demand for excess payments because she had struggled to find safe, decent housing. Mr. Ortiz participated fully in the Government’s investigation and provided a copy of the improper second lease to Government investigators. Mr. Ortiz collected $5,217 in excess rent.
“Low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled deserve dignity in housing,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “That is why Section 8 secures for them the right to decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings. When predatory landlords steal from both the taxpayers and the most vulnerable, we will stand with low-income New Mexican tenants to levy substantial sanctions against those who prioritize profit over people.”
“These settlements represent HUD OIG’s priority in protecting HUD beneficiaries from bad actors who prey on their vulnerability for self-enrichment,” said Special Agent in Charge Bertrand Nelson. “HUD OIG is committed to working with Federal prosecutors to pursue and bring to justice landlords who fraudulently overcharge HUD-assisted tenants in violation of Federal law.”
“A cornerstone of HUD's Section 8 program, and the key to housing affordability in Section 8, is the Brooke Amendment: a Section 8 tenant pays no more than 30% of their monthly income toward rent and utilities. The local public housing agency which is funded by federal grants pays the rest,” said Attorney Thomas Prettyman, who represented both tenants on behalf of New Mexico Legal Aid. “A small but significant minority of Section 8 landlords flaunt these rules and require tenants to pay extra for rent or utilities, making the housing unaffordable and contravening the very purpose of the Section 8 program. Tenants agree to pay the extra money because they are scared. These extra costs often lead to nonpayment, eviction, loss of vouchers, and homelessness. The results achieved by the US Attorney's Office in these two cases demonstrate the stiff penalties for Section 8 landlords that cheat. We hope these cases will help to discourage Section 8 landlords from breaking the rules, so that the Section 8 program can remain affordable for low-income New Mexicans.”
The allegations against Turnaround and Ortiz were brought to the attention of the United States by whistleblowers. The False Claims Act provides for whistleblowers to receive a portion of the amount recovered because of their disclosures. The whistleblowers will receive a share of the settlement proceeds. Absent the willingness of these individuals to come forward, the Government would not have learned of the misconduct by these landlords.
The government’s investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Cunniff and Auditor Julie Chappell, and investigators from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.
This case was prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s Environmental Justice Strategy. Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This strategy prioritizes cases that will reduce public health and environmental harms to overburdened and underserved communities, including those that hold violators of federal housing laws accountable for their actions. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico partners with federal, tribal, state and local housing agencies and organizations to enable people across the country to live in healthy, thriving communities, and to confirm that justice under the law is justice for all. To learn more about environmental justice or to report a known or suspected environmental violation in New Mexico, please email our Environmental Justice Coordinator at [email protected].
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New Hampshire Man Who Harassed and Intimidated Journalists Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a conspiracy to harass and intimidate a journalist employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and the journalist’s parents.
Michael Waselchuck, 36, of Seabrook, N.H., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and the use of a facility of interstate commerce before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani who scheduled sentencing for May 10, 2024. Waselchuck was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2023 along with co-conspirators Tucker Cockerline and Keenan Saniatan. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury along with Eric Labarge in September 2023. Cockerline previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in December 2023.
According to the charging documents, an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an article in March 2022 detailing allegations of sexual and other misconduct by a former New Hampshire businessperson, identified in the charging document as Subject 1. Another NHPR journalist (Victim 2) also contributed to the article, which appeared on NHPR’s website during and after March 2022. In response to this reporting, Labarge — who is alleged to be a close personal associate of Subject 1 — Saniatan, Cockerline and Waselchuck allegedly agreed to harass and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members. Among other things, the indictment alleges that:
- On or about April 22, 2022, Labarge solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s former residence in Hanover, N.H., using a brick and red spray paint. Thereafter, on the evening of April 24, 2022, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door and allegedly threw a brick through an exterior window of the home;
- On or about April 22, 2022, Saniatan allegedly agreed to vandalize Victim 2’s home in Concord, N.H., and Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., using large rocks and red spray paint. Thereafter, on the evening of April 24, 2022, Saniatan allegedly spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door and threw a large rock at the exterior of Victim 2’s home; and he allegedly threw a softball-sized rock through a front exterior window and spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on one of the garage doors of Victim 1’s parents’ home;
- On or about May 18, 2022, Labarge allegedly solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., and Victim 1’s home in Melrose, Mass., using bricks and red spray paint. Cockerline, in turn, allegedly recruited Waselchuck to vandalize Victim 1’s residence; and
- On the evening of May 20, 2022, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on one of the garage doors of Victim 1’s parents’ home, and left a brick on the ground near the front door. Several hours later, Waselchuck allegedly threw a brick through an exterior window of Victim 1’s home and painted the phrase “JUST THE BEGINNING” in large red letters on the front of the house.
Each charge in the indictment carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord, Hampstead and Hanover, New Hampshire Police Departments, the Melrose, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a Minneapolis home belonging to Luis Fernando Cervantes, 37. As a result of the search, law enforcement found seven one-kilogram packages of cocaine and a firearm.
On October 18, 2023, Cervantes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Cervantes was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.
Miami man found guilty of murder in aid of racketeeringRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Feb. 7, a Miami federal jury found a man guilty in a 23-count superseding indictment of murdering a man in aid of racketeering, assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, as well as of multiple counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
On April 28, 2020, Geno St. Flerose, of Miami, Florida, a member of the “Everybody Eats,” “EBE” gang shot and killed the victim, who was driving by St. Flerose’s house after St. Flerose chased him for over four blocks, and fired approximately thirteen rounds into the victim’s car, striking him three times. The victim died before getting to the hospital. The victim was 22 years old at the time of his murder.
Then, on June 17, 2020, a federal special agent was conducting surveillance in St. Flerose’s neighborhood when St. Flerose saw the agent’s car. St. Flerose ran into the street and fired multiple rounds at the agent’s car, penetrating it, but not striking the agent.
Law enforcement agents also discovered that St. Flerose had hundreds of people’s personal identifiable information.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 3 at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom. St. Flerose faces up to life in prison, criminal fines of up to $250,000 as to each count, and a period of supervised release of up to life.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and USSS Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Hernandez and Yara Dodin are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-20149.
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MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Racketeering Charge Including the Murder of 16-Year-Old Victim in Alley Pond Park in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Luis Rivas, a member of the Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (CLS) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization was sentenced by United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner to 35 years in prison for the May 16, 2017 fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Julio Vasquez in Alley Pond Park in Queens, and Hobbs Act robberies in Jamaica, Queens, after pleading guilty on July 14, 2023. Previously, co-defendant Josue Leiva, also a member of the CLS clique was sentenced on January 23, 2024 by Judge Kovner to 35 years in prison for the murder of Vasquez and Hobbs Act Robberies. Their co-defendant, and the leader of CLS, Melvi Amador-Rios, was convicted of the murder, the robberies and other charges after a three-week jury trial August 2023, and was sentenced to life in prison plus 38 years in November 2023.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“The sentencings sends a powerful message to the defendants, other MS-13 members, and the community that gratuitous and senseless violence of this nature will not be tolerated in our district,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We hope that today brings some measure of closure to the victims and their families.”
“There is no place in our communities for barbaric violence being used to threaten and intimidate. Luis Rivas and Josue Leiva were rightly sentenced today for their roles in a senseless murder and other callously violent actions in the name of MS-13. The FBI’s New York Safe Streets Task Force is determined to ensure members of MS-13 or any other gang using violence in an attempt to control territory and people face significant punishment in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
“Meaningful prison sentences like this are why the men and women of the NYPD, in close partnership with our colleagues at the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, continue to aggressively pursue anyone who senselessly commits violent crimes and puts our communities at risk,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “We vow to remain relentless in our efforts to dismantle gangs and hold their individual members fully accountable for their actions.”
As proven at Amador-Rios’ trial, beginning in fall 2016, the CLS clique, led by Amador-Rios, decided to kill John Doe 3, a CLS chequeo, or low-level MS-13 member, who had been violating the clique’s rules, including by associating with members of the rival 18th Street gang. Amador-Rios ordered Julio Vasquez, also an MS-13 chequeo, to carry out the killing of John Doe 3. Vasquez was tasked with killing John Doe 3 because Vasquez had been violating the clique’s rules and was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. After Vasquez failed to kill John Doe 3, Amador-Rios ordered Vasquez to be killed. On May 16, 2017, Rivas and Leiva lured Vasquez to a wooded area of Alley Pond Park where they stabbed him more than 30 times, nearly decapitating him and ultimately killing him. Vasquez’s body was discovered by a bird watcher in the park on May 21, 2017. Leiva and Rivas pleaded guilty on July 14, 2023 to racketeering charges, including Vasquez’s murder.
Leiva and Rivas also each participated in separate armed robberies of small businesses in Jamaica, Queens. In 2017, Rivas, accompanied by Amador-Rios and other gang members, robbed at gunpoint a money transfer business, during which Rivas pistol whipped an employee in the face. In 2018, Leiva, accompanied by Amador-Rios and other gang members, committed a robbery involving holding the owner and a customer of a convenience store at gunpoint.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Today’s sentencing is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13. The gang has thousands of members across the United States. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 45 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia E. Moore, Anna L. Karamigios, and Raffaela S. Belizaire are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Emily Moosher.
The Defendant:
LUIS RIVAS (also known as “Inquieto” and “Kiko”)
Age: 28
Jamaica, New YorkJOSUE LEIVA (also known as “Colocho”)
Age: 27
Jamaica, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-398 (S-3) (RPK)
Lake County Man Arrested for Possession of A Firearm by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Frank Thomas Diviak (23, Altoona) on an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of stolen firearm, and stealing a firearm from a federal firearms licensee. If convicted, Diviak faces up to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and up to 10 years in prison each for possessing the stolen firearm and stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on December 20, 2023.
According to court records, Diviak was previously convicted of three state felonies, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. On December 4, 2023, Diviak went into a Lake County pawn shop, took a revolver off a display, and put it in his pocket. He fled the store on his bicycle but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. As Diviak raised his hands to surrender to the officers, the stolen revolver fell out of his clothing and onto the ground. As a convicted felon, Diviak is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eustis Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Lake County Man Arrested for Illegally Possessing A Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of William Scott Fogg (37, Altoona) on an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Fogg faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Fogg on December 20, 2023.
According to court records, Fogg has been convicted of eight felonies since 2008, including burglary, grand theft, and illegal drug possession. On August 28, 2023, Fogg approached his girlfriend, who was seated in a truck with her minor children. Fogg entered the vehicle, took a pistol out of the center console, pulled back the slide, and threatened to shoot all of them. Responding deputies subsequently took Fogg into custody and recovered the loaded firearm. As a convicted felon, Fogg is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Justice Department Secures Language Access Agreement with Sheriff’s Office in Washington StateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today an agreement to resolve allegations that the King County, Washington, Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) discriminated against people who are limited English proficient (LEP), in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Under the terms of the agreement, KCSO has agreed to take a number of steps to improve language access for individuals with LEP. Title VI prohibits race, color and national origin discrimination (including discrimination on the basis of English proficiency) by entities that receive federal financial assistance.
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that our law enforcement agencies are able to protect and serve all people in their community, including crime victims, regardless of their ability to speak English fluently,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement agreement will enhance public safety, and improve delivery of language services for people with limited English proficiency in King County.”
“Today’s agreement with the King County Sheriff’s Office helps build community trust,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “I am pleased that as soon as the problem was presented to the Sheriff’s Office, the agency realized it had to improve policies around language access and immediately agreed to make changes.”
Today’s agreement details a two-year plan to phase in a series of language access supports to improve communication between KCSO deputies and individuals with LEP. Under the agreement, KCSO has agreed to hire a language access program manager; develop interim and final directives prohibiting the use of children, family, bystanders and other unqualified individuals for language assistance; engage in outreach with community members and stakeholders; develop a robust training program and ensure an accessible complaint process.
The Justice Department began engaging with KCSO after a community-based organization raised concerns about an incident between a KCSO Deputy and a resident with LEP. The Justice Department provided technical assistance to KCSO, which resulted in this settlement agreement.
This agreement was jointly negotiated by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The agreement is part of the department’s Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative (LELAI), a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies to overcome language barriers in their day-to-day work. The initiative, which is led by the Civil Rights Division in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, provides technical assistance resources and tools that can help state and local law enforcement provide meaningful language access to individuals with LEP, affirmatively engages law enforcement agencies that want to review, update and/or strengthen their language access polices, plans and training and strengthens the connection between law enforcement agencies and LEP community stakeholders and LEP populations.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov. More information on LELAI is available at www.lep.gov/law-enforcement. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Justice Department Secures Language Access Agreement with Sheriff’s Office in Washington StateRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today an agreement to resolve allegations that the King County, Washington, Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) discriminated against people who are limited English proficient (LEP), in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Under the terms of the agreement, KCSO has agreed to take a number of steps to improve language access for individuals with LEP. Title VI prohibits race, color and national origin discrimination (including discrimination on the basis of English proficiency) by entities that receive federal financial assistance.
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that our law enforcement agencies are able to protect and serve all people in their community, including crime victims, regardless of their ability to speak English fluently,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement agreement will enhance public safety, and improve delivery of language services for people with limited English proficiency in King County.”
“Today’s agreement with the King County Sheriff’s Office helps build community trust,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “I am pleased that as soon as the problem was presented to the Sheriff’s Office, the agency realized it had to improve policies around language access and immediately agreed to make changes.”
Today’s agreement details a two-year plan to phase in a series of language access supports to improve communication between KCSO deputies and individuals with LEP. Under the agreement, KCSO has agreed to hire a language access program manager; develop interim and final directives prohibiting the use of children, family, bystanders and other unqualified individuals for language assistance; engage in outreach with community members and stakeholders; develop a robust training program and ensure an accessible complaint process.
The Justice Department began engaging with KCSO after a community-based organization raised concerns about an incident between a KCSO Deputy and a resident with LEP. The Justice Department provided technical assistance to KCSO, which resulted in this settlement agreement.
This agreement was jointly negotiated by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The agreement is part of the department’s Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative (LELAI), a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies to overcome language barriers in their day-to-day work. The initiative, which is led by the Civil Rights Division in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, provides technical assistance resources and tools that can help state and local law enforcement provide meaningful language access to individuals with LEP, affirmatively engages law enforcement agencies that want to review, update and/or strengthen their language access polices, plans and training and strengthens the connection between law enforcement agencies and LEP community stakeholders and LEP populations.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov. More information on LELAI is available at www.lep.gov/law-enforcement. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Hotel in Austin to Ensure Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – The United States reached a letter agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District, to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agreement requires the hotel to train its staff and provide equal service to customers with disabilities.
The Department of Justice received an ADA complaint alleging that after reserving an accessible room, when an individual with a disability attempted to check-in, the Hilton Garden Inn provided a standard room that lacked bathroom grab bars or shower accommodations. This left the complainant without a usable bathroom during her stay. The complaint prompted an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The ADA requires that hotels provide access to individuals with disabilities, including honoring reservations, providing fully accessible rooms, and making accommodations.
“For people with disabilities, travel can be stressful due to concerns that they won’t have basic accommodations, such as a place to sleep at night or access to appropriate hygiene facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “People with disabilities should not be denied these necessities in lodging. The ADA ensures that all people traveling with disabilities who are traveling can find hotels that will provide equal access to their rooms and facilities.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Liane Noble represented the government during the resolution process.
For more information about the ADA, visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Justice Department Announces Plan to Administer Grant Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2024 to Strengthen Community SafetyRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced its annual plan for making anticipated grant funding available this fiscal year to advance public safety activities and improve justice system outcomes. The Department is inviting community-based organizations; state, local, Tribal, and territorial government agencies, including law enforcement agencies; research institutions; and nonprofit entities to apply for funding from more than 200 grant programs, administered by its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). As in prior years, the awards will be made later this year, subject to appropriations, and will build on almost $5.8 billion in grants awarded in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.
“Every person, in every neighborhood, deserves to be safe and feel protected,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In the coming year, the Justice Department plans to put more resources directly into the hands of our law enforcement and community partners working to drive down violent crime and improve public safety. We encourage police departments, community organizations, and other partners to apply for this funding through the Justice Department’s more than 200 grant programs.”
“These critical resources will make a profound difference in lives of Americans across the country, from funding more officers on the beat to helping survivors of domestic violence seek shelter,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Community-based organizations, crisis centers, law enforcement agencies, and more will benefit from these investments, and our communities will be safer because of them.”
Funding awarded by the Department’s three grantmaking components covers a wide range of public safety activities, from law enforcement hiring and community violence intervention to justice system-behavioral health partnerships, school safety measures, and programs designed to curb domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Program solicitations will invite proposals from eligible applicants for competitive and formula grant funding.
“The anticipated investments in this year’s Program Plan demonstrate the Justice Department’s continued commitment to helping our community and law enforcement partners across the country advance community safety, justice, and wellness,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “I am grateful to the dedicated employees in our three grantmaking offices who work hard every day to administer our grants and support applicants and grantees throughout the process.”
Published annually, the Justice Department Program Plan outlines funding opportunities that the Department intends to provide to enhance community safety and trust and improve the criminal, civil, and juvenile justice systems; assist victims of crime; provide training and technical assistance to state, local, Tribal, and territorial government agencies, as well as to community-based organizations; and conduct research and collect national statistics. The Program Plan provides summary details of the funding opportunities each grantmaking component has released or anticipates releasing this fiscal year. The Plan is searchable by component or office, keyword, eligible applicant category, and expected release date.
Funding amounts in the FY 2024 Plan and other relevant information are subject to the availability of appropriations and potential legislative changes and may be updated frequently. Potential applicants can request to be notified of the release of solicitations and of updates through email subscription services available from the COPS Office, OJP, and OVW.
To learn more about where to find DOJ funding opportunities and how to apply, visit the JustGrants Resources Application Submission Training page.
Information about FY 2023 awards can be found on the COPS Office, OJP, and OVW websites.